I wish to offer American Palestinian Women’s Association (APWA) our appreciation for supporting Leonard Education Organization (LEO), whose main objective is to offer Palestinian youth an American college education that would improve their future prospects and help build the intelectual capital of the Palestinian people.

Right before the 2017 Spring Semester, APWA organized and held a fund raiser for the benefit of LEO at the home of an APWA member and founder. On that cold and cloudy Saturday afternoon, APWA members, supporters, and guests gathered around to enjoy a warm afternoon tea with LEO’s executive director Deya’ Leonard Dresner, along with local LEO students, board members, and donors.

The group listened attentively as our students recounted the process that LEO funds and requires each of its recipients to complete- which includes completing the usual; college applications and interviews, SAT and TOEFL Exams- and the unusual; travel permits to exit Palestine and prpare for their first plane trip away from home. They also shared their college campus experiences and spoke of the many challenges they faced and conquered here in the US and at home.

Soon after the spring semester began, we asked APWA to cover the cost of textbooks for our college students. And again APWA did not fail us. APWA supplied our students with their respective course textbooks, without which their education would have been compromised.

I urge you to read LEO Stories, which offers a glimpse of the amazing success these young Palestinians have accomplished in a span of a year- much credit belongs to APWA for making this possible.

Again, thank you to APWA and its members. Your support has allowed LEO to fulfill its mission- prepare, mentor, and secure the best college education for Palestinian youth.

Entry Fee $25 (adults) & $15 (minors under 14 years)

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Since 1956, Palestinians have celebrated Mother’s Day on March 21st- the first day of Spring (Spring equinox).

Palestinians and 19 Arab nations celebrate Mother’s Day on March 21st- the first day of spring.

On Mother’s Day, Palestinians honor mothers as well as the maternal bonds that extend to grandmothers, aunts, and female family members, which Palestinians have traditionally regarded as sacred relations that link families and connect them to past and future generations. During Mother’s Day public events are held to honor the influence of Palestinian mothers on family and society.

On the occasion of Mothers’ Day for some and the advent of Spring for all, may your day be filled with(فرح) happiness and (صحة جيدة) excellent emotional and physical health.

Oud player and music composer, Marcel Khalife (مارسيل خليفة) sings “To My Mother إلى أمي”- written by the late Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish (محمود درويش), which captures the poets personal experience as a political prisoner who longs to return home to be with his mother.

It would be an understatement to suggest that the confusion and despair that has engulfed our nation is not troubling if not at times depressing. Nonetheless, a new political awakening is taking shape that is heartwarming and promising.

mai abdul rahman February, 2017

While some Americans are clinging to the past, the unfolding present is asserting a forgotten American vision- a untied and indivisible nation with liberty and justice for all. During the Woman’s March on Washington, DC, Americans of every stripe demonstrated their resolve to end the practice of exclusionary politics that privileged the few. Collectively, they sent President Trump and his political agents a clear message: dismissing the rights of Americans will be challenged. Since then, millions of Americans are rejecting the politics of division and fear that has ruined the reputation of millions of Americans, and facilitated the robbing of their rights.

The U.S. political system has been the exclusive domain of America’s dominant culture and its political elites. Concurrently, the social privileges of the dominant culture and its prejudicial attitudes have been transmitted and reproduced throughout the U.S. political system. This made it possible to dismiss and ignore the rights of Americans outside the U.S. centric social construct. Unchallenged, the dominant political class shaped the American political discourse and influenced U.S. legislative policies. In the meantime, the interplay and utility of fear helped spawn institutional bias of citizens considered outside the dominant political culture. Consequently, the U.S. political system rendered status and full constitutional protections to some Americans, and suspended the constitutional rights of other Americans.

After the election of President Trump, millions of Americans have time and again stood side by side to denounce bigotry and hate. Across this vast nation, daily peaceful demonstrations, vigils, marches, and act of solidarity are uncovering a compassionate America that was for far too long closeted and hidden from view.

In the midst of bewilderment and confusion, a new American vision is unfolding. While still budding and its success is still a distant promise, the organic nature and inclusiveness of this movement has engendered wide appeal as well as scorn. Much like past American social movements, the non-violent nature of this new evolving mass movement is being tested.

The future success of this new organic American mass movement will depend on the foresight, deliberate planning, persistence, and organizational skills of average Americans, and their ability to anticipate and respond to the many who will challenge their objectives. If successful, these Americans will help create an inclusive political paradigm that protects the rights and liberties of all of Americans- not just the few. In the meantime, a new narrative is forming to challenge the politics of fear and exclusion.

On Christmas Day, worshipers across this country will hold bibles that bear the faithful diligence of the forefathers of present day Palestinian Christians; and Protestant and Catholic clerics will display the ecclesiastical vestments that invoke Palestinian traditional dalmatic embroidery.

mai abdul rahman Christmas 2016

This Christmas, pastors will quote the scripture that was elucidated by the Palestinian scholar Procopius of Gaza, and bishops will bear their ecclesiastical vestments that display Palestinian traditional dalmatic embroidery that was first worn by Palestinian clerics.

The Christians of Palestine trace their faith to the very first disciples. Nonetheless, Americans continue to ask Palestinian Christians “When did you convert?” Unaware, that the Palestinian Christians whether they reside in Gaza, the West Bank, East Jerusalem, or Israel represent the uninterrupted presence of the very first church.

The history and narrative of the Palestinian Christians dates back to the very first cross and church. Since the birth of Jesus, the Christians of Palestine have provided fellow Christians an authentic account of the early Christian experience, and their scholars have helped clerics and worshipers contextualize the bible verses they cite and read. Because of their close proximity and relationship to the first disciples, Palestinian scholars played a critical role in spreading the Christian faith, yet few are aware of their role in documenting the personal experience of the first Christians. Palestinian Christians’ direct link to the disciples provided scholars and historians an intimate knowledge of the personal religious experience of the first Christians. Their accounts helped shape the Christian narrative.

The Palestinian Christians are the living extension of the first church. For two thousand years, they have faithfully maintained the oldest churches in Christendom. They have preserved the ancient gardens where Jesus prayed, tended and harvested the olive trees that shaded Jesus and his disciples, and when their communities are besieged and bombed, they have used their sanctuaries to shelter and accommodate the earnest prayer of fellow Palestinians- Christian or Muslim.

So why do most Americans choose to ignore the Christians of Palestine and dismiss their early scholars? Palestinians have largely assumed that their Arabic bible, liturgies, and sermons, and Arab Semitic ancestral heritage are the core reasons that their community is forsaken and their scholarship is omitted and forgotten.

Regardless, Christians owe much to the faithful work and witness of the early Palestinian Christians, and many a pilgrim owes them gratitude for their persistent stewardship of Christendom’s first churches. Like their ancestors before them, the Christians of Palestine continue to practice their faith traditions and preserve their churches while living under an Israeli military occupation that limits their access to their holy places- they are a testament to their ancestors, the Palestinian people, and faith.

Since 2015, American Palestinian Women’s Association has provided music scholarships to young Palestinians. This year in particular, APWA is proud to have sponsored two young Palestinians who have shown a strong interest in learning and sharing their love of music.

During the last two years, APWA has sponsored the music education of young Palestinian students (2 each year) who attend Jenin’s Alkamandjati School of Music.

Here is how your contributions have helped APWA fund the music education of young Palestinians: For two years and counting, APWA has covered the weekly cost of 15 hours of individual and group music lessons for two young Palestinian students. This includes funding the cost of music theory lessons (2 hour), individual lesson (3 hours); and group music lessons: orchestra (4 hours), oriental ensemble (4 hours), and chamber music (2 hour). In addition, APWA covers the cost of its female scholarship recipients’ in the ‘Jadalya’ ensemble- a music group comprised of young Palestinian female musicians.

This year, your support has made it possible for APWA to fund the music education of Nadine Nazzal and Fadi Basha. While still young in years, Nadine and Fadi aspire to use their music education to improve their future prospects.

Nadine Nazaal (13) dreams of becoming a music teacher when she grows up.

APWA has covered the music education of Nadine Nazzal (13), who dreams of becoming a music teacher when she grows up. Watch Nadine as she plays her flute, which we hope will give you an additional incentive to support APWA. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLB2grLjDCU

APWA has also funded the music education of Fadi Basha (17 years). His teachers and peers recognize Fadi’s exceptional talent, and earnest desire to become a skilled violinist. Fadi’s hard work has paid off. Recently, Fadi was invited to participate in national and international musical festivals and tours.

Your support has made it possible for APWA to fund the musical education of four Palestinian youth. Your donation ensures APWA commits to funding the education of many more young Palestinians whether these youth aspire to become accomplished musicians or learn the fundamentals of playing a musical instrument just for the joy of it. Help us continue spreading the joy of music among young Palestinians-Thank you.

أعاده ألله عليكم بالصحة وألسلامه

On the Occasion of the Blessed

Eid ul-Adha (Eid of Sacrifice)

Friday, July 1st American Palestinian Women’s Association (PAWA) members orgamized, prepared, and served a warm meal to a group of homeless individuals.

APWA volunteers and the entire Arab America team respectfully greetd and served each member of our homeless community and neighbors with the utmost of grace.

A heartfelt thank you to the APWA volunteers who helped on the day of the event, a whole lot of APWA cooks and business supporters for donating your precious time and resources, and Arab America’s awesome team. With your help this effort was a huge success.

On Friday, July 1st, the last Friday of Ramadan, American Palestinian Women’s Association (PAWA) is organizing, preparing, and serving dinner to a group of homeless individuals in support of Arab America’s Ramadan feeding program “Hummus for the Homeless”.

With the help of generous donors from Arab and Muslim Americans, Arab America’s “Hummus for the Homeless” program has provided hummus and a warm dinner to DC’s homeless community on every Friday during Ramadan. This Friday, APWA volunteers will serve 200 homeless individuals at 5 pm, at 916 G St. NW, Washington, DC.

Ramadan is a time of giving back, reflecting on one’s life, and reminding one’s self of the less fortunate who suffer day to day. Ramadan Kareem.

Below is a list of requested donations

Hummus

Bread

Rice and Pasta dishes

Pizza

Salad

Watermelon

They are also accepting the following donations

Botteled Water

Small soaps

Laundry soap (small)

Sanitary napkins (small box)

Please deliver the food or other items by 3:30 pm to Catholic Charities at 916 G St. NW Washington, DC 20001. If you need assistance when you’re delivering, call (313) 617-6000 or (313) 999-6000. If you are interested in being part of this effort, or for more information, please text *(202) 374 6045.

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